Deposit Deducted for Cleaning?
If your landlord has deducted from your deposit for cleaning, or you want to make sure that does not happen, here is what you need to know and how we can help.
This guide is published by Derby Cleaners, a professional cleaning service covering Derby and all surrounding areas. For help or a free quote, call 01332 480163 or visit derbycleaners.co.uk.
How cleaning deductions actually work
Cleaning is one of the most common reasons landlords and letting agents deduct from tenancy deposits. In Derby, we see this regularly with properties managed by local agents. The typical scenario is straightforward: the property was clean at the start of your tenancy, and the landlord expects it to be returned in the same condition.
The problem is that "the same condition" is subjective. What you consider clean after living somewhere for a year or two is often not the same as what a letting agent considers clean during a formal checkout inspection. They are looking at oven interiors, behind appliances, inside window tracks, tops of door frames. Areas most people do not clean regularly.
Deductions are typically between £100 and £400 depending on the size of the property and how much the agent claims needs doing. That is money you could keep in your pocket by either doing a thorough clean yourself or getting it done professionally before the inspection.
Timing makes a real difference
The best time to get a professional end of tenancy clean is after you have moved your belongings out but before the checkout inspection. That way, the cleaners can access every surface, and the property is inspected in its cleaned state.
If the inspection has already happened and you have received a list of cleaning issues, you usually have a short window to put things right. Most agents give 24 to 72 hours for remedial work. This is where we can help quickly. We regularly do urgent bookings for tenants who have received a failed checkout report and need the property re-cleaned before the deadline.
The worst scenario is doing nothing and letting the agent arrange cleaning themselves. They will use their own preferred contractor, charge whatever rate they choose, and deduct it from your deposit. You lose control of the cost entirely.
What an end of tenancy clean covers
Our end of tenancy cleaning is designed specifically to meet the standards that agents and landlords check against. It is not a quick surface wipe. It covers everything that gets flagged during checkout:
Kitchen
- Inside and outside of oven, grill, and hob
- Interior of fridge and freezer
- Inside all cupboards and drawers
- Extractor fan and filter
- Behind and under appliances where accessible
- Sink, taps, and drainer
- Splashback and tiles
Bathroom
- Bath, shower, and shower screen
- Toilet inside and out, including behind
- Limescale removal from taps and showerhead
- Tile grout and sealant cleaning
- Mirror, cabinet interior, and shelving
- Extractor fan
- Floor edges and corners
We also clean all living areas, bedrooms, hallways, and any additional rooms. Skirting boards, light switches, door handles, window sills, radiators. The details that get missed during a regular clean but are checked during inspection.
Protecting yourself from unfair deductions
Even with a professional clean, some landlords or agents try to deduct from deposits unfairly. Here is how to protect yourself:
- Keep your receipt
A professional cleaning receipt is evidence that you took reasonable steps. If a dispute reaches the deposit protection scheme, this carries weight.
- Take photos after the clean
Photograph every room, including inside the oven, behind the toilet, and the extractor fan. Timestamp them. These are your evidence.
- Check the inventory
Compare the checkout report against the original inventory. Fair wear and tear is not something you should be charged for.
- Challenge unreasonable claims
Deposit protection schemes exist specifically to resolve disputes. If you have evidence of professional cleaning and the landlord still deducts, you have grounds to challenge.
For more detail on deposit disputes, see our page on getting your deposit back.
Have questions?
We are happy to help. Call us or send an enquiry and we will get back to you.